We met at the Thunder Bay Inn after Bridget picked up Emma at Camp. It was good seeing everyone pile out of the Suburban as we met to coordinate our pickup. Everyone was excited to be together, and to share in this experience. I was very at peace after a wonderful drive the night before and cool experience with the staff the the Inn. Reality quickly kicked in as Emma and Carl started bickering and Buster (on a new dog food diet) made a significant deposit on the lawn I had to pick up with a plastic garbage bag. Gives a whole new meaning to the the question paper or plastic....
With no garbage can in site, I put the "Buster Gift" in the trunk of the car and we headed to Bay Cliff. As we drove through check in and we got our number 69, we found out later that people were lining up at 6am so they could be first in when they opened the doors at 10am. Hence the large number even though we arrived at 10:30.
We got ourselves organized and walked through the gates with much anticipation and very squirrely kids. When we arrived at the welcome center, we learned that they called your number and you went through a check out process. Once complete, they announced the campers name to "come on down" to meet the parents. Well... we arrived to number 17 being called but were assured it was moving fast... Ahh right...
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| Patiently waiting.... |
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| The waiting area... |
Bridget and the kids immediately went to the pile of "bay cliff clothing" for sale and picked out a few things, including some Packer T-shirts on sale (The UP is Packer Country). Then they noticed that they were showing pictures of the summers events on the movie screen. There was Donovan, in the Big Bay 4th of July Parade, in his wagon, with his hand on his chin, looking bored..... Still a great pick of him being patient and waiting for the excitement...
Number 23 and 24........
Sooo the kids went from watching pictures to going out and playing on the basketball court to just wondering around. Then Emma came back excited saying she say Donovan by his cabin and he looked good! It was cool seeing her so excited and needing to tell us.
Number 43 and 44...
The anticipation grew!
I asked Ricky to go let Buster out of the car so he got a break and give Ricky something to do....
Now Ricky is Donovan's best friend. I can't say enough how wonderful this 16 year old young man is with our son. Forever patient, forever willing to do what ever Donovan wants (he played 4 hours of Monopoly today with Donovan) and always putting Donovan's needs first. He carried him Piggy Back Style at Pictured Rocks, when the walk and climbing got to be too much for D. All the Johnson boys are great with D, but Ricky is especially attentive and supportive.
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| At Pictured Rocks.. Best Buds... |
Ahhhhh the wait........ Kids are getting anxious and bored... Hanging on Bridget and I.... Me to the kids... "Behave and go play on the basketball court.... quick picking on each other" in the mean time, Carl is trying to be mister funny man and everyone is trying to be patient....
Number 61 and 62....
Seven weeks....Life has been crazy this summer... As I've mentioned before a summer of transition. Donovan gone for 7 weeks, Emma gone two weeks at two summer camps, me gone to help out on the farm for three weeks, and Bridget home with one or two kids (and a dog) alone sooo much, holding down the fort. All this time away from everyone made me think of John Adams.
Ok, I'm a history buff and love the book about how John Adams was the key person in founding our country. I thought of this often as he spent years away from his wife and kids, working to get our country off the ground after we declared our independence. At one time he was raising money for our country to fight the British, and spent 9 years in France and Holland, while his wife took care of their farm and raised the kids. He had a strong wife who made it happen, much the way Bridget attends to all the details of our kids and Donovan's medical, education and emotional needs.
Number 65 and 66
God, our kids are lucky to have such a wonderful and relentless Mom. Donovan wouldn't even be at Bay Cliff if it weren't for super hero, "Research Queen" Mom Bridget. When she wants something done, she makes it happen, and NO ONE will deny her.... If they know what's good for them... :)
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| In the Physical Therapy Gym |
Ok... Paper work.. Check.... Check book.... Check... Kids assigned a spot outside to be ready to meet Donovan...check....
Number 69....
Bridget and I walk into the office and finalize the paperwork. There is Karen, who is the assistant director, big smile on her face and giving us wonderful words of how well Donovan did and can they have him again next summer! Bridget and both indicate "we'll see" and try to hurry through the process and the next thing you know we hear, "Donovan Lassig, come see your family" over the loud speakers, as we walk outside...........
I could attempt to write everything I felt for the next few moments as we saw Donovan from afar, getting up and using his crutches to walk to us, the screaming boy ahead of Donovan, who yelled, "Mommy I missed you so much" as his Mom ran to him crying and grabbing him....
Me trying to stay composed and try to tell but here are a few pics that tell the story until I can figure out how to get the video I took uploaded so you can see for yourself.... Impossible to describe what it is like to see you child of 9 years after 7 weeks....
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| Here he comes!!! |
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| Mom's hug!! |
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| Already telling stories! |
Christy was Donovan's PT and the person Bridget talked to when she first made that fateful call two years ago to learn about Bay Cliff. Can't say enough about this young lady who spent so much time with us answering all our questions and concerns and comforting us that Bay Cliff would take great care of our Donovan and he would have a great time. Her manerisms and patience with all our questions about how he did, what we needed to do to keep his progress going (ok, Bridget's questions,,,, I just listened and asked an occasional question..) was amazing.
We were once again reminded we made the right decision and that the staff of Bay Cliff were a God Send....
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| Donovan Showing us how he can walk without his crutches and Christy coaching him through it! |
Our next visit was with Miss Kim, his speech path. Again, all the time we wanted she spent with us telling us of all the adventures and progress Donovan made. Her telling us how Donovan continued the "Spanish Speaking game" of who would speak English first. The person who spoke English first would loose. If Donovan won, he got candy for his camp counselor, Miss Laura, and if he lost, he had to give hugs to everyone at camp.
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| Teaching us a camp song... |
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| Hotdogs! |
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| Miss Emmy on the left and D's Cabin Counsilor on the right. My bad I can' | t remember her name. |
It is late and I have lot's more to say but I'm pooped. The following are a few picks I want to share and you can read into them your self. We will continue this blog as I'm sure Bridget will want to share...
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| Carl gets his hug..... |
We are tremendously blessed and lucky to have such a strong and happy child in Donovan. I'm not sure it comes through in the video, but I could tell he worked very hard not to cry as he was hugged first by Emma and then the rest of the kids. It was very touching and humbling to see how much love and support his brother, sister and cousins gave him in those short moments before life moved on. How Carl reached for Bridget to give her a comforting hug as she teared up after giving Donovan a hug and Donovan gave me my hug after seven weeks.
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| My first hug after 7 weeks... See Carl in the background comforting Bridget..... |
God graced us with many supportive and loving family and friends that carried us through this current chapter of the journey and will continue to be our anchor in the storm of life. But as the old saying goes, life is about leaving port and setting sail for the horizon, not being safe and letting the boat sitting idle in the tide at the mooring... Thank you again to all of you.........
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| Waiting for Christy in the PT gym... |
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| Cousins...... |
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| Chatting on the way to the speech cabin... |
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| Before Camp..Ready for the challenge |
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| After Camp.. a little wiser and a little more grown up... |
